Find a court case, docket, or judgment
County Circuit Clerk where the case was filed
Illinois trial court files and dockets are maintained by the county Circuit Clerk.
Where To Start
Pick the office that typically holds the record you need.
Locate a deed, mortgage, or lien
County Recorder (or County Clerk/Recorder)
Land records are recorded at the county level and indexed by name, document number, or parcel.
Order birth, death, or marriage certificates
Illinois Department of Public Health or the local County Clerk
Vital records are issued by the state and counties, with eligibility rules for certified copies.
Verify a business or search UCC filings
Illinois Secretary of State
The Secretary of State maintains business entity and UCC records.
Request a criminal history check
Illinois State Police
The state repository handles name-based or fingerprint-supported criminal history requests.
Illinois Record Holders And Access Paths
| Source Or Office | Best For | Helpful Search Input | Access Method | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Circuit Clerk | Trial court case files, dockets, judgments, traffic and criminal citations | Case number; party name; date of birth; citation/ticket number; filing date range | Online docket (where available), in person counter, mail request | Availability varies by county; certified copies issued by the clerk. |
| County Recorder (or County Clerk/Recorder) | Deeds, mortgages, liens, releases, plats, recorded documents | Grantor/grantee name; property address; PIN; document number; recording date | In person index terminals, county online portals (where offered), mail copy requests | Official land records are county-based; fees apply for copies and certification. |
| County Assessor | Parcel characteristics, assessed value, PIN lookup, maps | Property address; PIN; owner name | Online parcel search (many counties), in person, phone/email inquiry | Assessment data is not proof of ownership; confirm ownership via Recorder. |
| Illinois Department of Public Health (Vital Records) | Certified birth and death certificates; verification services | Full name; date and place of event; parents’ names; requestor’s relationship | Mail, online requests via approved vendors, in person at state or county offices | Eligibility and ID required; some records are restricted to entitled requesters. |
| Illinois Secretary of State | Business entities, corporate filings, UCC liens; certain driver/vehicle records | Business name; file number; registered agent; UCC debtor name or file number; driver’s license number | Online search portals, mail or in-person requests | Certified entity documents and UCC copies available; driver/vehicle data has privacy limits. |
| Illinois State Police | State criminal history record checks | Full legal name; date of birth; fingerprints for positive ID (when required) | Online request systems, mail submissions, approved livescan providers | Criminal history checks are different from court docket lookups; reporting depends on submissions. |
Helpful Search Inputs
- Full legal name with middle name or initial
- Date of birth or approximate age
- Case number, docket number, or ticket/citation number
- Property address and county
- Parcel Identification Number (PIN)
- Grantor/grantee name or document number (for deeds and liens)
- Business or corporate name and state file number
- UCC filing number or debtor name
- Inmate or jail ID number (where applicable)
- Driver’s license number or vehicle VIN (where eligible)
Route By Record Type
Court Records
Civil, criminal, traffic, family, probate, small claims, judgments, and filings
- Where To Start
- County Circuit Clerk where the case was filed; appellate matters with the appropriate Appellate or Supreme Court clerk
- Best Search Input
- Case number or ticket number; party name with date of birth; filing date range
- Official Copy Note
- Request certified copies from the Circuit Clerk for use in legal matters or official verification.
Property & Deeds
Deeds, mortgages, releases, liens, plats, chain of title
- Where To Start
- County Recorder (or County Clerk/Recorder) for recorded documents; County Assessor for parcel data and PIN lookup
- Best Search Input
- Grantor/grantee name, property address, PIN, or document number
- Official Copy Note
- Certified deed or recorder-stamped copies are typically required for title, lending, or filing purposes.
Vital Records
Birth, death, and marriage certificates; divorce decrees
- Where To Start
- Illinois Department of Public Health or the local County Clerk; divorce decrees from the County Circuit Clerk
- Best Search Input
- Full name, date and place of event, parents’ or spouse’s names; case number for divorce
- Official Copy Note
- Certified copies carry a seal and may be limited to eligible requesters; informational copies may not be accepted by agencies.
Business & UCC
Corporations, LLCs, assumed names, annual reports, UCC lien filings
- Where To Start
- Illinois Secretary of State
- Best Search Input
- Business name, state file number, registered agent; UCC debtor name or file number
- Official Copy Note
- Order certified status certificates, good standing, and UCC copies when needed for banking or legal transactions.
Inmate & Corrections
County jail custody, state prison inmates, projected release dates
- Where To Start
- County Sheriff for local jail; Illinois Department of Corrections for state prison lookup
- Best Search Input
- Name with date of birth; inmate or DOC number
- Official Copy Note
- Custody lookups are informational; obtain certified court documents from the court for legal proof.
Official Records vs Background Services
Official Illinois sources are the right place for certified copies, court filings, deeds, and agency-maintained records. They let you request sealed or certified documents when you qualify, and they reflect what the agency actually holds. Background check services can help with broad, name-based searches across many data sets, but they may be incomplete and do not replace court, clerk, recorder, or vital records offices.
How To Request Official Copies
- Identify the correct office: Circuit Clerk, Recorder, Assessor, Vital Records, Secretary of State, or State Police.
- Confirm the record type and years available online versus in person or by mail.
- Choose copy type: regular, certified, or exemplified (as applicable to courts or land records).
- Gather identifiers: names, dates, case number, PIN, document number, or other precise details.
- Submit the request using the office’s accepted method (online form, mail application, or in-person counter).
- Provide ID and eligibility documents when required and pay applicable copy or certification fees.
Limits And Accuracy Notes
- Illinois has 102 counties; there is no single statewide index for all county court or land records.
- Online indexes may omit images or older years; archived files can require in-person or mail requests.
- Name matches can refer to multiple people; confirm with date of birth, address, or a case/document number.
- Some records are sealed or restricted (juvenile, adoptions, certain vital records); eligibility and ID may be required.
- Reporting and indexing schedules vary by office; recent filings may not appear immediately online.
- Financial judgments can appear in both court records and recorder indexes; check both for completeness.
Illinois Public Records FAQs
How do I find Illinois court cases online?
Start with the county Circuit Clerk where the case was filed. Many counties offer online dockets; others require an in-person or mail request. Have a case number or party name and a date range.
Where can I get a certified marriage certificate in Illinois?
Request it from the County Clerk that issued the license. The state vital records office may also issue copies in some situations. Bring ID and meet eligibility requirements.
Can I search property records statewide by address?
No single statewide address search exists. Use the county Assessor to find the PIN and the county Recorder for deeds and liens in the county where the property is located.
What is the difference between a criminal history check and a court search?
A court search looks up cases at a specific court, while a criminal history check through the Illinois State Police queries the state repository and may require fingerprints for positive identification.
How do I look up an Illinois business or UCC filing?
Search with the Illinois Secretary of State using the business name or file number, or by debtor name or filing number for UCC records. Certified copies can be ordered when needed.
How long will my records request take?
Processing times vary by office, record type, and method. Some items can be obtained in person the same day; mailed or certified requests may take longer. Check the specific office’s guidance.